We live rather simply in Mexico by American standards—the high life by Mexican standards. No furnace or a/c, no clothes dryer. No garage, no remote opener for our gate. Two rather new cars, but we are 10km on the other side of tracks (literally) on unpaved roads, so they’re the luxury we afford ourselves. And Starlink! But we haven’t replicated an American lifestyle, so I get it.
IMHO, most of Modernity™️ is an attempt to extend one’s senior year in high school—sports, parties with booze and other intoxicants, concerts, weekend road trips, falling in love/breaking-up, and hanging out because down time is wasted time. Blech.
In contrast to “He who dies with the most toys wins”, the Amish (and Roman Catholic monastic orders) have been on the cutting edge of the dignity of labor and the importance of the inner life my entire life. And longer!
With God as guide, we intend to survive whatever comes our way. No debt.
I had never thought of modern life as an unending attempt to extend senior year. Sad because there’s truth to that. Grateful you’ve found a simple lifestyle you enjoy.
David I am an Orthodox Christian. We sing the Psalms in Church during Vespers and the Liturgy. We also the Psalter that some people pray daily. The Traditional Roman Catholics have the Psalter too.
As a Christian I try not to worry about life’s surprises but their (Amish) way of life has its advantages and even appeals.
When I was growing up, we raised our own beef, I had raised chickens for eggs and I still miss having a farm life; the garden and animals and the food not being injected with all kinds of preservatives and just a little humor; the cow farts lol 😆
We live rather simply in Mexico by American standards—the high life by Mexican standards. No furnace or a/c, no clothes dryer. No garage, no remote opener for our gate. Two rather new cars, but we are 10km on the other side of tracks (literally) on unpaved roads, so they’re the luxury we afford ourselves. And Starlink! But we haven’t replicated an American lifestyle, so I get it.
IMHO, most of Modernity™️ is an attempt to extend one’s senior year in high school—sports, parties with booze and other intoxicants, concerts, weekend road trips, falling in love/breaking-up, and hanging out because down time is wasted time. Blech.
In contrast to “He who dies with the most toys wins”, the Amish (and Roman Catholic monastic orders) have been on the cutting edge of the dignity of labor and the importance of the inner life my entire life. And longer!
With God as guide, we intend to survive whatever comes our way. No debt.
Thanks for thinking and writing.
I had never thought of modern life as an unending attempt to extend senior year. Sad because there’s truth to that. Grateful you’ve found a simple lifestyle you enjoy.
David I am an Orthodox Christian. We sing the Psalms in Church during Vespers and the Liturgy. We also the Psalter that some people pray daily. The Traditional Roman Catholics have the Psalter too.
As a Christian I try not to worry about life’s surprises but their (Amish) way of life has its advantages and even appeals.
When I was growing up, we raised our own beef, I had raised chickens for eggs and I still miss having a farm life; the garden and animals and the food not being injected with all kinds of preservatives and just a little humor; the cow farts lol 😆
To be fair there are many Christians in India and Taiwan (and relatively free)
Will clearly disagree on their "P" worldview.